Swaziland Newsletter No. 807 – 15 December
2023
News
from and about Swaziland, compiled by Global Aktion, Denmark (www.globalaktion.dk) in collaboration with
Swazi Media Commentary (www.swazimedia.blogspot.com), and sent to all with
an interest in Swaziland - free of charge.
King Mswati’s wealth now
worth R10billion according to Forbes, as unfair competition by royal linked
companies worsen poverty situation and creates tension in eSwatini
By Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland
News, 14 December, 2023
MBABANE:
Mswati has accumulated wealth worth R10billion ($500million), according to
Forbes rating, as alleged unfair competition business environment created by
giant companies linked to the King worsen poverty situation while creating
tension.
Eswatini
is a tiny Kingdom with about 70% of the population living below the poverty
line, has been struggling with a collapsed health and education system.
Hundreds
are reportedly dying amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals while State
Universities or institutions of higher learning now rely on donations for
working equipment with financially struggling students dropping out.
The
World Bank reported that, the unemployment rate increased in eSwatini from 23%
to 33.3% in 2021 amid escalating costs of basic commodities.
But
in the midst of the poverty situation, King Mswati, the Africa’s last absolute
Monarch, owns shares in giant companies in the construction, tourism, agriculture,
telecommunications and forestry industries among others.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland
News, Percy Simelane, the King’s Spokesperson said, it was difficult to
know how Forbes reached the figure suggesting that, the King’s wealth was worth
R10billion(500million).
“As the King’s rating formulae is an
exclusivity to the person(s)who do the rating it shall continue to be difficult
to figure what exactly was being calculated or considered as variables to his
wealth. We therefore elect not to commit half-headedly and pretend we know how
the sum total was reached. The figures keep on changing and we never get to
know why it changes from time to time”, said the King’s Spokesperson when
responding to a questionnaire from this publication.
On Wednesday this week, Thulisile Dladla, the
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) visited Mgidzangcunu in the outskirts of Vuvulane, one
of the areas situated in the poverty stricken Lubombo Region which is facing
high levels poverty.
The purpose of the visit, it has been
disclosed, was to assess the poverty situation however, similar visits by
senior Government officials and politicians were witnessed before without a
political will to address the challenges affecting the people of Mgidzangcunu.
But the poverty situation at Mgidzangcunu
is experienced a few meters away from sugar-cane fields that supply the Royal
Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RESC) at Mhlume and Simunye, some of the
Mgidzangcunu citizens were forced to poverty after their sugar-cane fields were
forcefully grabbed by King Mswati and his Mother Ntombi Tfwala.
It has been reported that in 2021, eSwatini
exported raw sugar worth over R8billion, the sugar was exported to countries
that include South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda and other parts of Europe.
Speaking to this publication on Thursday, Mphisi
Dlamini, the Acting Chief of Vuvulane said, the poverty situation in the area
was worsened by the King’s decision to grab their land for his personal
sugar-cane farming business.
To read more of this report, click
here
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=5736
See also
Mswati not remitting
25% ‘in trust for the Swazi Nation’ minerals shareholding worth billions amid
shortage of drugs in hospitals, King’s Spokesperson says public benefiting
through Tibiyo scholarships
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=5728
Mswati spends over
R100million purchasing Ferrari cars for his children amid shortage of drugs in
public hospitals, King’s Spokesperson says it’s a private matter
https://swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=5711
Masculinity
supposed to protect vulnerability of our community
By
Thamsanqa KrTC Sibandze, eSwatini Observer, 14 December 2023
As a man, a son, a brother and a member of
this society, the rising levels of gender-based violence (GBV) in Eswatini
demand our immediate attention and unwavering commitment.
We can no longer stand by as our sisters,
mothers and daughters face the brutal realities of violence – it is time for us
to RISE!
The One Billion Rising Eswatini movement
is gearing up for the 2024 ‘Rising’ to unite Emaswati against the scourge of
GBV. We, as men, are called upon to join this movement, to be part of the
solution, and to imagine a world free from the shackles of violence, inequality
and injustice.
In recent times, the world has been marred
by turmoil and Eswatini is no exception. Our country grapples with
socio-economic and political challenges, with an alarming rise in violence
against women.
Femicide, the brutal killing of women, has
reached unprecedented levels, often perpetrated by spouses or partners. The
escalating figures are not just statistics; they represent human beings whose
security has been violated, often without access to support and justice. We
cannot afford to turn a blind eye any longer.
Rising festivals, organised by the One
Billion Rising Campaign, provide spaces for compassion, healing and envisioning
a world without violence.
As men, we must ask ourselves: What world
do we want to create? How can we contribute to a society free from oppression
and abuse?
We must rise to the principles of ending
violence towards women, understanding patriarchy, and promoting care,
community, trust and interconnectedness.
When men stand up and speak out against
social issues, the impact resonates throughout society like a powerful ripple
effect.
History has shown that real change occurs
when men, as allies and advocates, take a stand against injustice.
To read more of this report, click
here
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=21671
Drugs
shortage: cops question 8 civil servants
Stanley
Khumalo, Times of eSwatini, 13 December 2023
MANZINI: About Eight civil servants have reportedly been
interviewed by the police to date as part of investigations into the shortage
of medical drugs in public health facilities.
According to sources,
following the call by the Prime Minister (PM), Russell Dlamini, to the Royal
Eswatini Police Service (REPS) to intensify investigations into any corrupt
practice by service providers and government employees throughout the entire supply
chain of pharmaceuticals, with the intention to punish offenders; eight people
have been interviewed. It is worth noting that in February 2023, the Auditor
General (AG), Timothy Matsebula, presented his Forensic Investigation Proposal
and Audit of Acquisition, Distribution and Management of Pharmaceuticals
Report, where he stated that drugs worth E151.6 million were missing and or
unaccounted for in public health facilities around the country.
This is despite that in the
past five years; the Ministry of Health was awarded a budget of E12.66
billion. Conversely, the call to present information to the police was
also emphasised by the Director of Funduzi Forensic Services, Zakhele Dlamini. Dlamini
said people with information should assist government in finding the root cause
of the medical drugs and pharmaceutical supplies shortage. He said this
would assist the police in investigating the issue in line with the forensic
investigation done by his entity. Dlamini said by registering information with
the police, the ‘whistle-blowers’ would be assisting in speeding up the
investigations into the health crisis. He pleaded with the nation to
assist in bringing the issue to its finality. Dlamini said his company was
willing to assist in any manner regarding the investigation as per their
commitment to government.
Funduzi Forensic Services was
recruited by government to conduct a forensic investigation into the supply of
medicines to public health facilities. The sources shared that, the police
had engaged with the eight civil servants and others who were implicated,
seeking information to establish their role in the procurement of medical drugs
and pharmaceutical supplies.
It has been gathered that
those who were interviewed were also questioned on what they knew about what
led to the shortage of medical drugs and pharmaceutical supplies in public
health facilities.
To read more of this
report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/143033-drugs-shortage-cops-question-8-civil-servants.html
Storm
leaves damage worth millions in eSwatini shortly after Senator Tony Sibandze
moved a motion to establish a Climate Change Committee
By
Bongiwe Dlamini, Swaziland News, 9 December, 2023
NGCULWINI: The effects of climate change
are beginning to be costly to ordinary eSwatini citizens as a storm that
destroyed cars and houses was experienced at Ngculwini and other areas on
Friday afternoon.
The storm came after the landlocked tiny
Kingdom situated in Southern Africa, experienced an extremely hot weather.
But, Senator Tony Sibandze successfully
moved motion a motion for the establishment of a Climate Change Committee, the
Senate Committee seeks to work with the Executive arm of Government and other
stakeholders in addressing issues of climate-change.
Speaking to this Swaziland News,
one of the affected residents at Ngculwini said, she had prepared her house for
children to visit during the festive season but the storm damaged all windows.
“I was preparing for the kids to visit
home during Christmas but the storm has destroyed all windows”, she said.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo
had not responded at the time of compiling this report, he was asked if
government had or will assess the damage caused by the storm.
The United Nations (UN)Sustainable
Development Goals(SDGs) list climate change as goal number thirteen(13), that
seeks to encourage countries to limit and adapt to climate change.
Climate change is one of the seventeen (17)Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN General Assembly in 2015 and the official mission statement of this goal is to “take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”.
Random countrywide raids to curb crime coming: Minister
By Sifiso Dlamini, Times Sunday, 10 December
2023
MBABANE: Random countrywide
raids, 24-hour roadblocks could be a norm in the near future.
This may well be the new
normal should the aspirations of the new Minister of Justice and Constitutional
Affairs, Prince Simelane come to fruition. Presenting an idea on how to
curb corruption and crime in the country, the minister proposed embarking on
random raids countrywide, through a joint venture by the country’s security
forces. He also envisaged that mounting roadblocks in various strategic areas
around the country day and night would go a long way towards cleaning the
country’s streets and ridding it of crime. The minister advocated for
sweeping operations meant to ensure peace and stability and a crime free
country. He said this would have a positive contribution towards removing
the now abundant illegal firearms from the hands of criminals.
The minister revealed that
such security tactics have been adopted by other countries, including some in
the SADC region, yielding measurable success in reducing crime levels. He
used Lesotho as an example, where he stated that the national army took over
security duties from the police and conducted patrols and roadblock
checks. He clarified that, this however, was doable through collaborative
work by all security forces in a joint venture. However in order to
achieve his dream for the country, the minister echoed his submission during
the parliamentarians courtesy call to His Majesty King Mswati III at Mandvulo
Grand Hall, where he proposed the increase in number of security force
personnel. This was where members of the 12th Parliament introduced themselves
to the King and made their presentation on how they believed the country could
move forward and fulfill His Majesty’s vision to end corruption, address the
poverty crisis and unemployment, as well as economic growth.
While making his submissions
the minister pleaded with His Majesty and government to consider increasing the
number of security forces personnel to provide a fence or shield around the
country, to maintain peace and order. Adding, the minister said this was
essential because no investor would be interested in investing in an unstable
country where businesses, government structures, equipment and tinkhundla
centres were burnt down and vandalised at any given time. The minister
suggested that the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) should be increased to
15 000, Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) to 12 000, His Majesty’s
Correctional Services (HMCS) to 10 000. The minister also suggested
increasing the Eswatini National Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services
(ENFRES) personnel, which he also pleaded that they should be recognised
as security forces to 5 000.
During an interview with the Times
Sunday, Minister Prince Simelane asserted that his current ministry was
also an important fence or shield for the country, as it was mandated to
enforce the law through prosecuting cases working together with the other law
enforcement agencies. He assured that during his tenure in office, he would do
the best he could to ensure justice prevailed and was fair to all. He
further pointed out that increasing the number of security forces personnel
alone, would not be practical, as there was also a need to ensure that they
were provided with all the working tools and equipment they required. “For
this to be a success, government has to ensure that the security forces are
well-equipped, unlike in previous situations where there was a shortage of
vehicles and fuel for police officers resulting in them being unable to
promptly attend to calls,” said the minister. Simelane has urged the
Correctional Services which falls under his portfolio to engage the REPS and
UEDF to embark on periodic random sweeping exercises, where they would conduct
raids across all four regions in the country and be proactive in preventing
crime.
He suggested that these raids
should be conducted once a month and should not be isolated to urban or
peri-urban areas, but countrywide in all four regions including townships and
rural areas. “Currently, crime is on the rise in the country and there are
a lot of illegal firearms circulating and being used to commit heinous crimes
as well as drug smuggling. I believe that such raids would be important in
sweeping the country and curbing crime,” he said. The minister further
called for 24-hour patrols across the country and the mounting of roadblocks
even at night no matter the weather conditions to ensure safety and peace in
the country while reducing crime. “If we can manage to do this as a
country, it will go a long way in ensuring service delivery and allowing
emaSwati to rest easy while knowing they and their assets are protected,” he
said. The minister also proposed that all tinkhundla centres across the
country should be guarded day and night as well as all schools and government
structures such as ministerial buildings, court houses as part of what he
themed efficient service delivery.
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